"The violation of the truce is an exceptional event that will not last," he said at a news conference in Rome.

"I take this opportunity to appeal to Israel to show the necessary self-control so that this will not happen again."

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet with his senior security advisers on Wednesday to consider their options, Israel Radio reported.

The attacks, which came as Israel observed its 59th anniversary, caused no damage or injuries.

Bloody weekend

They marked the first time that Hamas, the senior partner in the Palestinian coalition cabinet, claimed responsibility for launching rockets into Israel since a November 26 ceasefire took effect between the army and Palestinian fighters.

Abu Obaida said the firing of Tuesday's projectiles was aresponse to the death of nine Palestinians, two teenagers and fivefighters among them, by Israeli troops over the weekend in theoccupied West Bank and Gaza.

The deaths marked the bloodiest weekend of Israeli-Palestinianviolence since the November truce and sparked calls for retaliationon the part of Palestinian armed groups.

Under the terms of the November ceasefire, the Israeli armywithdrew troops from the Gaza Strip and Palestinian fighters there weresupposed to halt rocket fire.

Until Tuesday, the truce has largely held despite violations byboth sides.